Automated laser tuning

ABSTRACT

In exemplary embodiments, an ultra short pulse system comprises a laser platform which includes an optical source configured to generate an optical pulse, an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical pulse, and a compressor configured to temporally compress the amplified optical pulse. The ultra short pulse system further comprises monitor circuitry configured to monitor one or more performance aspects of the laser platform. Additionally, the ultra short pulse system may comprise logic configured to control the one or more performance aspects of the laser platform in response to at least the monitored one or more performance aspects.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/740,874 entitled “Intelligent Laser Interlock System” and filed on Apr. 26, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,232,687, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/796,646 entitled “Laser System Software Development Platform” and filed on Apr. 26, 2006. This application is also a continuation-in-part and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/259,176 entitled “Systems and Methods for Control of Ultra Short Pulse Amplification” and filed on Oct. 27, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,139,910, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/615,883 entitled “Pulse Stretcher and Compressor Including a Multi-Pass Bragg Grating” and filed on Dec. 22, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,049, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/761,736 entitled “Method of Dispersion Compensation in a CPA System” and filed on Jan. 23, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/762,284 entitled “USP Laser Fiber Amplifier” and filed on Jan. 25, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/763,002 entitled “Seed Control In Ultra-Short Pulse Laser Systems” and filed on Jan. 26, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/762,791 entitled “Amplifier Control In Ultra-Short Pulse Laser Systems” and filed on Jan. 26, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/762,790 entitled “Method of Remote Access To An Ultra-Short Pulse Laser System” and filed on Jan. 26, 2006. This application is also related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2009/0216494 entitled “Network Laser System with Remote Diagnostics” and filed on Jan. 30, 2009. Each of the above patent applications and patents are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of light amplification, and more particularly to the field of automated laser tuning.

2. Description of Related Art

Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) is very useful for producing ultra short-duration high-intensity pulses for use in high peak power ultra short pulse laser systems. CPA increases energy of an ultra short laser pulse while avoiding optical amplifier damage and excessive nonlinear distortion. In this technique, a duration of the pulse is first increased by dispersing the ultra short laser pulse temporally as a function of wavelength (a process called “chirping”) to produce a chirped pulse. The chirped pulse is then amplified and recompressed to significantly shorten its duration. Lengthening the pulse in time reduces the peak power of the pulse and, thus, allows energy to be added to the pulse without incurring excessive nonlinearities or reaching a damage threshold of the pulse amplifier and optical components. An amount of pulse amplification that can be achieved is typically proportional to the amount of pulse stretching and compression. Typically, the greater the amount of stretching and compression, the greater the possible pulse amplification.

A CPA system typically comprises an optical stretcher, an optical amplifier, and an optical compressor. The optical stretcher and optical compressor are ideally configured to have equal but opposite dispersive properties to perfectly compensate for one another to minimize the pulse width of an amplified optical pulse. The optical stretcher may comprise a bulk diffraction grating, an optical fiber, a fiber grating, or other dispersive optical elements. Optical fiber-based dispersive optical elements are generally not used in the optical compressor because the peak power of an optical pulse within the optical compressor is generally larger than an optical fiber's nonlinear threshold. Therefore, bulk diffraction gratings are generally used in optical compressors due to the ability of bulk diffraction gratings to handle larger optical power levels than optical fibers.

Any material through which an optical pulse propagates, such as a waveguide in an optical amplifier, may add dispersion to the optical pulse. This additional dispersion may not be compensated by a perfectly matched optical stretcher and compressor pair. In addition, dispersion properties of the components of an ultra short pulse amplification system may be sensitive to temperature as well as minute variations in the parameters and physical configuration of the system components. Therefore, adjustment of various parameters and positions of the system components may be required on a regular and periodic basis to maintain desired system operation. Traditionally, this has made hands-on operation and adjustment by knowledgeable and experienced laser system experts required to properly use ultra short pulse amplification systems.

SUMMARY

In exemplary embodiments, an ultra short pulse system comprises a laser platform which includes an optical source configured to generate an optical pulse, an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical pulse, and a compressor configured to temporally compress the amplified optical pulse. The ultra short pulse system further comprises monitor circuitry configured to monitor one or more performance aspects of the laser platform. Additionally, the ultra short pulse system may comprise logic configured to control the one or more performance aspects of the laser platform in response to at least the monitored one or more performance aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network laser system environment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary control-system controlled ultra short pulse system.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method of control-system controlling an ultra short pulse system.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments of the present invention, logic may be integrated with an ultra short pulse system to provide automated control and tuning of the ultra short pulse system. The logic may include digital devices such as processors, integrated circuits, firmware, memory, and software programs configured to control the ultra short pulse system. Monitor circuitry may be configured to monitor performance aspects of the ultra short pulse system and provide monitor data to the logic. The logic may implement various control system processes to automatically control and tune the ultra short pulse system so that manual control and tuning may not be necessary. In this way, the ultra short pulse system may operate independently according to pre-programmed parameters without manual intervention, and may do so more efficiently than if manual tuning or control were required. Automated tuning and control of the ultra short pulse system may facilitate applications which would not be practical otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network laser system environment 100. The network laser system environment 100 comprises a network laser system 102, a laser application control system 104, and a network laser diagnostics system 106, all of which are coupled by a network 108. Any of these systems may comprise a computing device. The network laser system 102 comprises a network laser control logic 110 configured to control one or more performance aspects of the network laser system 102. The network laser control logic 110 may also be configured to provide an interface to the network 108 such that the network laser system 102 may behave as a network device conforming to relevant network communication standards. The network laser control logic 110 may use control system processes involving feedback and control loops to control-system control a laser platform 114. For example, a proportional, integral, derivative (PID) control algorithm may be used. Examples of the laser platform 114 include a chirped pulse amplification system and an ultra short pulse laser system.

The network laser system 102 may also include monitor circuitry 112. The monitor circuitry 112 may be configured to monitor performance aspects of the laser platform 114 and provide performance data to the network laser control logic 110. The monitor circuitry 112 may include sensors such as temperature sensors, current sensors, voltage sensors, optical power sensors, optical energy sensors, pulse repetition rate sensors, pulse duration sensors, position sensors, accelerometers, etc. The monitor circuitry 112 may be coupled with various constituent components of the laser platform 114. The monitor circuitry 112 may also monitor performance aspects of the network laser control logic 110.

The network laser control logic 110 may also be configured to communicate data over the network 108. For example, the network laser control logic 110 may be configured to transmit performance measurement data to the laser application control system 104 and/or the network laser diagnostics system 106. As another example, the network laser control logic 110 may be configured to receive data such as commands or software updates from the laser application control system 104 and/or the network laser diagnostics system 106.

The laser application control system 104 may include a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a memory to perform a method for using the network laser system 102 in an application. The laser application control system 104 may comprise a remote command station for user command and control of the network laser system 102. In some embodiments, the laser application control system 104 may communicatively couple with the network laser system 102 via a wired connection using a communications protocol such as RS-232, USB (Universal Serial Bus), GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output), GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus)/IEEE-488, or I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit). In other embodiments, the laser application control system 104 may communicatively couple with the network laser system 102 via the network 108 using a networking protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol), and/or Ethernet over a wired (e.g., 10BASE-T or 100Base-T) or wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMax, or Bluetooth) connection. Alternatively, the laser application control system 104 may communicatively couple with the network laser system 102 via a telephonic connection. The laser application control system 104 may also include user interface and I/O components such as a video display screen, keyboard, mouse, joystick, touchpad, touch screen, tablet, printer, disk drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, etc. The laser application control system 104 may be configured to interface with a user and/or various digital devices to perform high-level control functions for the network laser system 102.

In some embodiments, the laser application control system 104 may comprise a general purpose computing system based on a commercially available operating system such as LINUX or WINDOWS. In other embodiments, the laser application control system 104 may comprise a dedicated computing system, such as a single board computer, optionally based on a real-time operating system. In these other embodiments, the dedicated computing system may include hardware-oriented user interface components such as knobs, push-buttons, switches, display lamps, etc. In other embodiments, the laser application control system 104 may comprise a machine control platform (e.g., Numerical Control or G-Code). In still other embodiments, the laser application control system 104 may comprise a portable computing device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA).

The laser application control system 104 may be configured to monitor and control the network laser system 102 over the network 108 such that a user of the network laser system 102 may be physically remote from the network laser system 102. For example, the laser application control system 104 may control laser system variables such as pulse repetition rate, pulse intensity, pulse energy, pulse duration, programmed pulse packet patterns, material-specific ablation rate, and/or system component temperature. The laser application control system 104 may also receive information from the network laser system 102 (e.g., data from the monitor circuitry 112) in real time. The information may be used as feedback in one or more control loops configured to control performance parameters or variables of the laser platform 114. In some embodiments, the network laser system 102 may include a video camera and provide images to the laser application control system 104. The video camera may be configured to capture images in a visible spectrum, ultra violet spectrum, and/or infrared spectrum.

The laser application control system 104 and/or the network laser diagnostics system 106 may be configured to update software or firmware of the network laser system 102 and/or the network laser control logic 110 remotely over the network 108. For example, such software and firmware updates may be used to improve system performance, provide for system diagnostics, and/or add new application functionality.

In exemplary embodiments, the laser application control system 104 may be configured to control more than one network laser system 102. For example, the laser application control system 104 may control a plurality of network laser systems 102 in a coordinated manner for an application that requires more than one network laser system 102. Alternatively, multiple laser application control systems 104 may be configured to communicate and coordinate with one another over the network 108, each of which may control one or more network laser systems 102.

In exemplary embodiments, the network laser diagnostics system 106 may communicate with one or more distributed network laser systems 102 and provide a centralized diagnostics, reporting, or performance monitoring functionality. The network laser diagnostics system 106 may diagnose deviations in laser system performance from reference specifications. The network laser diagnostics system 106 may also be configured to conduct performance evaluations and tests of components and subsystems included in the network laser system 102. In one example, a service technician may use the network laser diagnostics system 106 to monitor, diagnose, adjust, and tune the network laser system 102 remotely over the network 108 without physically seeing or touching the network laser system 102. The service technician may also determine what repairs or parts replacements are needed for the network laser system 102 prior to traveling to a location of the network laser system 102 to make the necessary parts repairs or replacements. The network laser diagnostics system 106 may also perform corrective maintenance of the network laser system 102 remotely over the network 108.

In some embodiments, the functions of the network laser diagnostics system 106 may be performed by the laser application control system 104, and vice versa. Additionally, there may be more than one of any of the network laser system 102, laser application control system 104, and the network laser diagnostics system 106. The network laser diagnostics system 106 may communicate with more than one network laser system 102 and/or laser application control system 104. Likewise, the laser application control system 104 may communicate with more than one network laser system 102 and/or network laser diagnostics system 106. Furthermore, the network laser system 102 may communicate with more than one laser application control system 104 and/or network laser diagnostics system 106.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary control-system controlled ultra short pulse (USP) laser system 200. The USP laser system 200 may comprise a turn-key system configured such that hardware and software controls, sensors, and feedback loops provide hierarchical layers of software and hardware control loops to facilitate automated tuning and operation. The USP laser system 200 may also be configured for development of laser-based applications using the USP laser system 200 by a non-specialist in laser technology.

In exemplary embodiments, the USP laser system 200 is logically divided into four subsystems: a supervisor subsystem 202, a seed subsystem 204, a fiber amplifier subsystem 206, and a delivery subsystem 208. The USP laser system 200 may comprise an embodiment of the network laser system environment 100. In one embodiment, the network laser system 102 may include the seed subsystem 204, the fiber amplifier subsystem 206, the delivery subsystem 208, and at least a portion of the supervisor subsystem 202. In various embodiments, any of the optical amplifiers represented in the USP laser system 200 may include more than one optical amplifier.

The exemplary supervisor subsystem 202 may comprise the laser application control system 104 and the network laser control logic 110. In some embodiments, the network laser diagnostics system 106 (not shown) may be included in or coupled with the supervisor subsystem 202. The laser application control system 104 may communicatively couple with the network laser control logic 110 using wired or wireless point-to-point or network communications. Likewise, the laser application control system 104 may communicatively couple with the delivery subsystem 208 using wired or wireless point-to-point or network communications. The network laser control logic 110 may communicatively couple with components of the seed subsystem 204 and the fiber amplifier subsystem 206 to control and/or monitor performance aspects of the network laser system 102. The monitor circuitry 112 may be included in any of the supervisor subsystem 202, seed subsystem 204, fiber amplifier subsystem 206, and delivery subsystem 208.

The supervisor subsystem 202 may be configured to provide autonomous control of the laser platform 114. This autonomous control may include monitoring and controlling power supplies, laser beam quality, and temperature of one or more components of the laser platform 114. The supervisor subsystem 202 may also provide local control and/or monitoring of the laser platform 114 using a front panel and/or GPIO pins. The supervisor subsystem 202 may also be configured to collect, store, and/or analyze monitored diagnostic and operational data pertaining to the laser platform 114.

In exemplary embodiments, the seed subsystem 204 may be configured to generate a seed laser pulse and feed the seed laser pulse to the fiber amplifier subsystem 206. The seed subsystem 204 may comprise a seed control board 210, a seed optics board 212, a seed source and stretcher 214, a seed amplifier 216, and a pulse picker 218. The seed source and stretcher 214 may include a mode-locked laser, a Bragg fiber stretcher, a high dispersion fiber coil, and/or a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG). In some embodiments, the network laser control logic 110 may control and/or monitor the seed control board 210, the seed optics board 212, and the seed amplifier 216. Alternatively, the seed control board 210 may control and monitor the seed optics board 212. The seed optics board 212 may control the seed source and stretcher 214 and the pulse picker 218. The seed source and stretcher 214 may be configured to generate a seed pulse and then temporally stretch the seed pulse. The seed amplifier 216 may be configured to optically amplify a power level of the stretched seed pulse. Subsequently, the pulse picker 218 may be configured to selectively block or pass one or more of the amplified stretched seed pulses to the fiber amplifier subsystem 206. In exemplary embodiments, the seed subsystem 204 may be configured to provide a dispersion tuning loop.

The fiber amplifier subsystem 206 may be configured to amplify a power level of the one or more picked seed pulses received from the seed subsystem 204. In exemplary embodiments, the fiber amplifier subsystem 206 comprises a pre-amplifier 220 and a booster amplifier 226 configured to optically amplify a power level of the one or more picked seed pulses and provide the one or more amplified pulses to a compressor 228. In one embodiment, the booster amplifier 226 may comprise an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and/or a ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier (YDFA). The compressor 228 may be configured to temporally compress the one or more amplified pulses, and provide the one or more compressed pulses to the delivery subsystem 208. In one embodiment, the compressor 228 may comprise a Treacy compressor. An amplifier control board 222 may be configured to control and monitor an amplifier optics board 224. The exemplary amplifier optics board 224 may be configured to control the booster amplifier 226 and the compressor 228. In exemplary embodiments, the network laser control logic 110 may be configured to control the amplifier control board 222, the amplifier optics board 224, and the pre-amplifier 220.

The exemplary delivery subsystem 208 may comprise mechanical and/or optical components configured to deliver a laser beam to an intended destination, such as a work surface. For example, the delivery subsystem 208 may include an x-y positioning table, x-y-z positioning table, and/or robotic arm configured to position an ablation beam to strike a target.

The USP laser system 200 may control a wide variety of component performance characteristics, including a pulse energy or peak and/or average power output of any of the compressor 228, the booster amplifier 226, the pre-amplifier 220, the seed amplifier 216, and the seed source and stretcher 214. The USP laser system 200 may also control a pulse repetition rate output from the delivery subsystem 208, the compressor 228, the pulse picker 218, and/or the seed source and stretcher 214. In some embodiments, an embodiment of the pulse picker 218 that includes an electro-optical modulator (EOM) may be controlled to set a specified output power level at a given seed amplifier 216 pump current by setting a bias current of the electro-optical modulator. In some embodiments, an embodiment of the pulse picker 218 that includes an acousto-optical modulator (AOM) may be controlled to set a specified output power level at a given seed amplifier 216 pump current by setting a diffraction efficiency of the acousto-optical modulator. Pulse repetition rate from the seed source and stretcher 214 and/or the pulse picker 218 may be set to control an output optical power from the compressor 228.

Step-wise control of an ablation rate may be achieved by configuring multiple amplifiers in parallel in a train mode, where each amplifier provides a pulse at a slight offset from a neighboring amplifier to generate a train of output pulses in response to a single input pulse. By turning amplifiers on and off, delivered energy may be controlled in a step-wise fashion, resulting in step-wise control of the ablation rate.

In some embodiments, a polarization selective device (e.g., a half-wave plate) may be included in the compressor 228 and positioned to set or reduce optical power losses in the compressor 228. A control loop may be configured to periodically hold pump diode current constant in an EDFA along an optical propagation path between the pulse picker 218 and the compressor 228, while automatically adjusting a position of the polarization selective device to minimize optical power losses in the compressor 228. The adjustment may be based on comparing sensor feedback from an input to the compressor 228 with sensor feedback from an output from the compressor 228. The adjustment may be performed by scanning a position of the polarization selective device through a range of positions, logging net power loss through the compressor 228 verses a position of the polarization selective device, and selecting a minimum-loss position of the polarization selective device.

A power output from the seed source and stretcher 214 may be controlled by setting current values of pump diodes which pump an optional EDFA in the seed source based on feedback from at least a monitor (e.g., sensor) of an output of the seed source and stretcher 214. A power output from the optional seed amplifier 216 may be controlled by setting current values of pump diodes which pump the optional EDFA in the seed source based on feedback from at least a monitor of the output of the pulse picker 218. Likewise, the output power level of the pulse picker 218 may be controlled based on feedback from at least a monitor of an output of the pulse picker 218. In addition, an output power level of the pre-amplifier 220, booster amplifier 226, or compressor 228 may be controlled based on feedback from at least a monitor of the output of the compressor 228. The output power level may be controlled by setting current values of pump diodes which pump an optional EDFA included along the optical propagation path between the pulse picker 218 and the compressor 228.

The USP laser system 200 may include tap points at various electrical nodes and/or at various points along optical propagation paths. The tap points may include sensors and/or monitors configured to provide feedback to one or more control systems regarding operation of the USP laser system 200. For example, tap points may be provided after the seed source and/or before the stretcher of the seed source and stretcher 214, before or after any power amplifier along the optical propagation path, before or after the pulse picker 218, or before, within, or after the compressor 228. The tap points may include voltage monitors, current monitors, temperature monitors, optical power monitors, frequency monitors, pulse repetition rate monitors, safety shutter position monitors, and various signal quality monitors. Control points may include current controls, polarization control filter set points, power amplifier power controls, amplifier safety controls, temperature controls (e.g., heaters, chillers, thermostats), digital clocks, safety shutter controls, and RF drive controls (e.g., gain and bias).

Any of the control laser application control system 104, the network laser control logic 110, the seed control board 210, and the amplifier control board 222 may include logic configured to perform control system functions for at least a portion of the USP laser system 200. The logic may include a processor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), memory, firmware, and/or software instructions stored on a storage medium. Analog to digital converters may be included in, or coupled with, any component of the USP laser system 200 to facilitate control and/or monitoring in conjunction with the supervisor subsystem 202. Analog to digital conversion at a sensor's location may improve accuracy compared to performing the conversion at a control board because digital transmission lines are more immune to noise than analog transmission lines.

In some embodiments, the USP laser system 200 may be controlled by periodically holding current to pump diodes which pump an EDFA in the seed amplifier 216 constant while adjusting an EOM bias current of the pulse picker 218 to minimize output power of the pulse picker 218 based on feedback from at least a monitor of the output of the pulse picker 218. In other embodiments, the output power of the pulse picker 218 may be set to a desired value (e.g., minimized) by scanning the EOM bias current through a range and logging the output power of the pulse picker 218 versus pulse picker EOM bias current based on feedback from at least a monitor of the output of the pulse picker 218, and then selecting a desired bias current to achieve the desired power output value of the pulse picker 218.

In some embodiments, the USP laser system 200 may be controlled by periodically holding current to pump diodes which pump an EDFA in the seed amplifier 216 constant while adjusting an AOM diffraction efficiency of the pulse picker 218 to minimize output power of the pulse picker 218 based on feedback from at least a monitor of the output of the pulse picker 218. In other embodiments, the output power of the pulse picker 218 may be set to a desired value (e.g., minimized) by scanning the AOM diffraction efficiency through a range and logging the output power of the pulse picker 218 versus pulse picker AOM diffraction efficiency based on feedback from at least a monitor of the output of the pulse picker 218, and then selecting a desired diffraction efficiency to achieve the desired power output value of the pulse picker 218. Diffraction efficiency tuning may be accomplished by changing the power of a radio frequency (RF) signal applied to the AOM electro-acoustic transducer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the seed subsystem 204 is configured to synchronize the pulse picker 218 with an output of the seed source and stretcher 214. Logic may monitor a pulse synchronization output from the seed source, synchronize the pulse synchronization output with a local oscillator (e.g., 100 MHz), and then create a divided and phased signal for timing control of the pulse picker 218. The logic may include selectable pulse pick rates, which may be selected by a user or program via the network laser control logic 110 or the laser application control system 104. The logic may also include a selectable phasing count to align the pulse picker 218 to optical pulses input to the pulse picker 218. In an embodiment having a 100 MHz oscillator, the logic may include 10 ns phasing increments. Because the oscillator is asynchronous with the timing of the optical pulses input to the pulse picker 218, there may therefore be an uncertainty on the timing of the pulse picker 218 relative to the optical pulses. The uncertainty may be equal to the phasing increments.

In various embodiments, control loops are stabilized by monitoring multiple tap points within the USP laser system 200. Seed frequency and pulse repetition rates may be monitored to maintain system performance within specified tolerances (e.g., 20 MHz+/−0.5% pulse repetition rate). System failure may be indicated when system performance cannot be maintained within the specified tolerances.

In one embodiment, an amplifier control loop may control the output power of the seed amplifier 216 to achieve a specified power level by adjusting a laser diode current setpoint of the seed amplifier 216. The laser diode current setpoint may be adjusted based on feedback from a tap point monitoring the power level output from the seed amplifier 216. The seed amplifier 216 may operate in a constant-output-power mode while the amplifier control loop functions.

In some embodiments, nested control loops may be coordinated with one another to prevent interference with one another. For example, the pulse picker control loop may be coordinated with the amplifier control loop such that the pulse picker control loop disables the amplifier control loop temporarily while the pulse picker control loop executes a “minimum hunting” algorithm.

In one embodiment, a “maximum hunting” algorithm may be employed. In one example, a range of current levels for the seed source control may be scanned, and a value that results in the highest average power at a tap point following the seed source and stretcher 214 may be recorded and set as the operating current for the seed source. The scan algorithm may be triggered by manual input, program control, a timer, or a number of monitored tap points whose values satisfy a threshold condition. Likewise, a “minimum hunting” algorithm may be employed in a pulse picker control loop to minimize an optical power level output from the pulse picker 218. A benefit of the maximum and minimum hunting algorithms is that calibration is not required.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the USP laser system 200 may have a minimum output pulse energy of 10 μJ/pulse, minimum pulse fluence of 3 J/cm², maximum pulse width of 5 ps Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), approximately 80% of the output energy within the ultra short pulse, M-squared parameter of approximately 1.2, spot size of approximately 20 μm to 200 μm, and software-selectable repetition rate of approximately 100 KHz to 5 MHz. In another embodiment of the present invention, the USP laser system 200 may have a minimum output pulse energy of 1 NJ/pulse, minimum pulse fluence of 0.1 J/cm², maximum pulse width of 1 ps Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM), approximately 90% of the output energy within the ultra short pulse, M-squared parameter of approximately 1.2, spot size of approximately 4 μm to 30 m, and software-selectable repetition rate of approximately 1 Hz to 500 kHz. Optical output from the delivery subsystem 208 may use free space optics. In various embodiments, the maximum pulse width may be less than 25 ps, 10 ps, 3 ps, or 900 fs.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method of control-system controlling an ultra short pulse system. The method includes determining a desired value for a performance aspect of a laser system such as the USP laser system 200 or laser platform 114, monitoring an actual value of the performance aspect, and controlling a controllable parameter in response to the monitored actual value.

In step 302, a desired value for a performance aspect of the laser system is determined. The desired performance aspect may include performance aspects of constituent components of the laser system. These constituent components may include an optical pulse generator and an optical stretcher such as the seed source and stretcher 214, an optical amplifier such as the seed amplifier 216, pre-amplifier 220, and/or the booster amplifier 226, a pulse picker such as the pulse picker 218, and an optical compressor such as the optical compressor 228. The desired performance aspect may include an average power output, a peak power output, an output pulse repetition rate, an output pulse energy, an output noise level, and output signal to noise ratio. Other performance aspects may include a temperature of any of the constituent components, a power output from any of the constituent components, a wavelength of the optical pulse, a pulse repetition rate from a pulse picker, a pulse repetition rate from a seed source, an output pulse shape, an output pulse rise time, an output pulse fall time, and an output pulse width or duration. Additional performance aspects may include a dispersion of the stretcher, a dispersion of the compressor, and polarization.

In step 304, an actual value of the performance aspect identified in step 302 is monitored. The performance aspect may be monitored using one or more sensors coupled with the laser platform 114. The monitored performance aspect may be logged or stored locally at the network laser system 102. In some embodiments, the monitored performance aspect may be transmitted to the laser application control system 104.

In step 306, a controllable parameter of the laser system is controlled in response to the performance aspect monitored in step 304. The controllable parameter may be controlled using a control system process such that future monitored values of the performance aspect in step 304 will be closer to the desired value determined in step 302. For example, the controllable parameter may be controlled such that the output pulse duration is controlled and automatically tuned over a range between approximately 0.5 ps and 20 ps.

As an example, a monitored optical power in step 304 may be desired to be kept at a constant value. If the monitored optical power is measured to be above or below its desired constant value in step 304, a controllable parameter such as laser diode pump current may be controlled to change the measured value of the monitored optical power to be closer to the desired value in step 306. In some embodiments, the monitored optical power may need to be above or below its desired constant value by a specified threshold value before the controllable parameter is controlled to change the measured value of the monitored optical power. The threshold value may typically be larger than a margin of error in the measurement of the monitored optical power or an acceptable operating range of the monitored optical power.

As another example, the laser system may need to be operated using one set of parameter settings to ablate a first material, and a second set of parameter settings to ablate a second material. Spectroscopy may be used to monitor a type of material being ablated by the laser system. The laser system may be controlled using the first set of parameter settings when the spectroscopy results show that the first material is being ablated. If the material being ablated changes to the second material, the laser system may then be controlled using the second set of parameter settings. In various embodiments, this may be useful when ablating through a number of layers of different materials on a single object, such as different tissues in an organism or different layers of a semiconductor substrate.

In some embodiments, a water chiller may be used to control a temperature of a constituent component of the laser system. In other embodiments, metal plates may be heated or cooled. In still other embodiments, thermoelectric cooler elements may be used as temperature controllers. The temperature of particular components of the laser system may have an impact on their performance, such as dispersion or wavelength. For example, the stretcher and/or compressor may be temperature controlled to match their dispersion properties to one another.

Electrical current values in laser diodes may also be controlled to control laser pulse power or optical amplification factors, for example. Some controls may be by electromechanical means, such as using piezoelectric devices and/or transducers to stretch or relax fibers or Bragg gratings, open and close shutters, move motorized polarization control elements or waveplates, etc.

Tunable lasers may also be controlled to tune an output wavelength of the laser system. For example, the output wavelength may be controlled and/or automatically tuned over a range between approximately 1530 nm to 1580 nm, corresponding to an optical gain spectrum of erbium-doped fiber (i.e., the erbium glass optical gain spectrum). As another example, the output wavelength may be controlled and/or automatically tuned over a range between approximately 1030 nm to 1100 nm, corresponding to an optical gain spectrum of ytterbium-doped fiber (i.e., the ytterbium glass optical gain spectrum).

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary controller 400. The controller 400 may comprise any of the laser application control system 104, network laser control logic 110, seed control board 210, amplifier control board 222, and network laser diagnostics system 106 according to some embodiments. The controller 400 may comprise a processor 402, a memory system 404, and a storage system 406, which are all coupled to a bus 408. The controller 400 may also comprise a communications network interface 410, an input/output (I/O) interface 412, and a display interface 414. The communications network interface 410 may couple with the communication network 108 via a communication medium 416. In some embodiments, the controller 400 may couple to another embodiment of the controller 400, which in turn may couple with the communication network 108. The bus 408 provides communications between the communications network interface 410, the processor 402, the memory system 404, the storage system 406, the I/O interface 412, and the display interface 414.

The communications network interface 410 may communicate with other digital devices (not shown) via the communications medium 416. The processor 402 executes instructions. The memory system 404 permanently or temporarily stores data. Some examples of the memory system 404 are RAM and ROM. The storage system 406 also permanently or temporarily stores data. Some examples of the storage system 406 are hard disks and disk drives. The I/O interface 412 may include any device that can receive input and provide output to a user. The I/O interface 412 may include, but is not limited to, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, a keypad, a biosensor, a compact disc (CD) drive, a digital versatile disc (DVD) drive, or a floppy disk drive. The display interface 414 may include an interface configured to support a display, monitor, or screen. In some embodiments, the controller 400 comprises a graphical user interface to be displayed to a user over a monitor in order to allow the user to control the controller 400.

The above-described modules may be comprised of instructions that are stored on storage media (e.g., computer readable media). The instructions may be retrieved and executed by a processor (e.g., the processor 402). Some examples of instructions include software, program code, and firmware. Some examples of storage media comprise memory devices, tape, disks, and integrated circuits. The instructions are operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art are familiar with instructions, processor(s), and storage media.

In the foregoing specification, the invention is described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited thereto. Various features and aspects of the above-described invention can be used individually or jointly. Further, various embodiments of the invention can be utilized in any number of environments and applications beyond those described herein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the specification. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be recognized that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used herein, are specifically intended to be read as open-ended terms of art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A laser system comprising: a) a network laser system having: i) a controller to control performing actions of a laser platform that generates an optical pulse, wherein the laser platform comprises an optical source that generates a seed optical pulse, an optical amplifier that amplifies the seed optical pulse, a pulse picker that selectively blocks or passes one or more of the amplified stretched seed pulses, and a compressor that temporally compresses the amplified optical pulse; ii) monitor circuitry that monitors one or more performance aspects of the laser platform; iii) a logic controller that automatically controls the one or more performance aspects of the laser platform in response to at least the monitored one or more performance aspects, wherein the one or more performance aspects include one or more of an average power output, a peak power output, an output pulse repetition rate, an output pulse energy, an output noise level, and an output pulse signal-to-noise ratio, such that an optimized system is maintained; and b) a laser application control system including a processor configured to execute instructions to remotely command the network laser system, wherein the laser application control system is configured to receive an actual performing data of the one or more performance aspects from the monitor circuitry in real time to maintain the laser platform performance within a predetermined tolerance.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further communicates data with at least one remote computing device.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further controls the one or more performance aspects in response to data received from at the least one remote computing device.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the logic further controls the monitored one or more performance aspects from exceeding designated ranges regardless of the data received from the at least one remote computing device.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein a pulse width of the optical pulse is less than 25 Ps.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein a pulse width of the optical pulse is less than 10 Ps.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein a pulse width of the optical pulse is less than 3 ps.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein a pulse width of the optical pulse is less than 900 fs.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further controls and automatically tunes a laser wavelength.
 10. The system of 1, wherein the logic further controls and automatically tunes a laser wavelength over a range between 1530 nm and 1580 nm.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further controls and automatically tunes a laser wavelength over a range between 1030 nm and 1100 nm.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further controls and automatically tunes a laser pulse duration.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further controls and automatically tunes a laser pulse duration over a range between 0.5 Ps and 20 Ps.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further controls and automatically tunes a laser pulse energy.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further controls and automatically tunes a laser pulse repetition rate.
 16. A method comprising: a) determining a desired value for a performance aspect of an ultra short pulse network laser system that generates an optical pulse, wherein the ultra short pulse network laser system comprises a controller to control performing actions of a laser platform comprising an optical source that generates a seed optical pulse, an optical amplifier that amplifies the seed optical pulse, a pulse picker that selectively blocks or passes one or more of the amplified stretched seed pulses, and a compressor that temporally compresses the amplified optical pulse; b) monitoring an actual value of the performance aspect of the ultra short pulse network laser system; c) automatically controlling a controllable parameter of the ultra short pulse network laser system in response to the monitored actual value of the performance aspect, wherein the one or more performance aspects include one or more of an average power output, a peak power output, an output pulse repetition rate, an output pulse energy, an output noise level, and an output pulse signal-to-noise ratio, such that an optimized system is maintained; and d) remotely commanding the ultra short pulse network laser system using a laser application control system including a processor configured to execute instructions, wherein the laser application control system is configured to receive an actual performing data of the one or more performance from the monitor circuitry in real time to maintain the laser platform performance within a predetermined tolerance.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the controllable parameter includes a temperature of a temperature controller.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the performance aspect includes an output pulse duration.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the performance aspect includes an output wavelength.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the performance aspect includes an output pulse repetition rate.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling the controllable parameter of the ultra short pulse network laser system is further in response to a monitored actual value of a performance aspect of another ultra short pulse network laser system.
 22. The method of claim 16, wherein controlling the controllable parameter of the ultra short pulse network laser system is further in response to a communication received from a remote computing system.
 23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method comprising: a) determining a desired value for a performance aspect of a network laser platform that generates an optical pulse, wherein the network laser platform performs actions controlled by a controller in a network laser system comprises an optical source that generates a seed optical pulse, an optical amplifier that amplifies the seed optical pulse, a pulse picker that selectively blocks or passes one or more of the amplified stretched seed pulses, and a compressor that temporally compresses the amplified optical pulse; b) monitoring an actual value of the performance aspect of the network laser platform, and automatically controlling a controllable parameter of the network laser platform in response to the monitored actual value of the performance aspect, wherein the one or more performance aspects include one or more of an average power output, a peak power output, an output pulse repetition rate, an output pulse energy, an output noise level, and an output pulse signal-to-noise ratio, such that an optimized system is maintained; and c) remotely commanding the network laser platform using a laser application control system including a processor configured to execute instructions, wherein the laser application control system is configured to receive an actual performing data of the one or more performance aspects from the monitor circuitry in real time to maintain the laser platform performance within a predetermined tolerance.
 24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein controlling the controllable parameter of the network laser platform is further in response to a monitored actual value of a performance aspect of another laser platform.
 25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein controlling the controllable parameter of the network laser platform is further in response to a communication received from a remote computing system.
 26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the performance aspect includes an average power output and controlling a controllable parameter includes control-system controlling at least one of a) a power output from a stretcher, b) a power output from a power amplifier, c) a power output from a pulse picker, d) a pulse picker output pulse repetition rate, e) an output pulse shape, f) an output pulse width, g) a temperature of a stretcher, h) a temperature of a compressor, i) a dispersion of the stretcher, j) a dispersion of the compressor, k) mechanical positioning of components of the compressor, and I) an output pulse polarization.
 27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the performance aspect includes an output pulse repetition rate and controlling a controllable parameter includes control-system controlling at least one of a) a power output from a stretcher, b) a power output from a power amplifier, c) a power output from a pulse picker, d) a pulse picker output pulse repetition rate, e) an output pulse shape, f) an output pulse width, g) a temperature of a stretcher, h) a temperature of a compressor, l) a dispersion of the stretcher, j) a dispersion of the compressor, k) mechanical positioning of components of the compressor, and l) an output pulse polarization.
 28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the performance aspect includes an output pulse energy and controlling a controllable parameter includes control-system controlling at least one of a) a power output from a stretcher, b) a power output from a power amplifier, c) a power output from a pulse picker, d) a pulse picker output pulse repetition rate, e) an output pulse shape, f) an output pulse width, g) a temperature of a stretcher, h) a temperature of a compressor, i) a dispersion of the stretcher, j) a dispersion of the compressor, k) mechanical positioning of components of the compressor, and l) an output pulse polarization.
 29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the performance aspect includes an output pulse signal to noise ratio and controlling a controllable parameter includes control-system controlling at least one of a) a power output from a stretcher, b) a power output from a power amplifier, c) a power output from a pulse picker, d) a pulse picker output pulse repetition rate, e) an output pulse shape, f) an output pulse width, g) a temperature of a stretcher, h) a temperature of a compressor, l) a dispersion of the stretcher, j) a dispersion of the compressor, k) mechanical positioning of components of the compressor, and l) an output pulse polarization.
 30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises: remotely accessing a control system of the network laser platform from a remotely located command station; receiving status information from the network laser platform at the command station; and transmitting information to the network laser platform, the transmitted information including at least one of: a) a software update for the control system, b) data for improving operations of an application of the network laser platform, c) data for performing maintenance of the network laser platform, d) data for control of an application of the network laser platform, and e) data for performing a test of the network laser platform.
 31. The system of claim 1 wherein the optimized system is maintained by compensating an amount of dispersion.
 32. The system of claim 16 wherein the optimized system is maintained by compensating an amount of dispersion.
 33. The system of claim 23 wherein the optimized system is maintained by compensating an amount of dispersion. 